WHO AM I?

(The unending/unfathomable search for the unknown me) First version Sep 14th 2011 Second version Mar 08th 2014 I am in search of the unknown me. I am not searching for any lost being, I am searching for the unknown me. I am after me to realize my-self. I am none, trying to understand the inner one. I worked on an essay titled "WHO AM I", in 1986-87. That essay was completed in one evening. In that essay, I only narrated all my physical attributes and my accomplishments. Then my thoughts were aggressive and I was proud of my achievements and hard earned ethics. That I was fully covered with ego and pride. I am exploring the real I de void of ego and pride. From the old essay "I realize that being somebody and of help to everybody, gives satisfaction, than of help to nobody". I can be somebody if I want to. I always wanted to be the distinct myself. I wanted to be somebody, with the distinct qualities, when I was nobody. I realized the happiness in being somebody, the distinct myself. Thank God , I stuck to my guns. Some of the great missionaries/distinct personalities, who served the needy, are Mother Theresa, Father Vincent Ferrar, Baba Amte. Off late, I was reviewing, what had changed in my perception, my approach about life. I observed a turn around in the way how I look at things, myself and life. I want to review and explore what had changed, in my perception. Working on and off, my review took me over a decade and still unfinished and unending. I want to publish the incomplete essay and post future updates/revisions from time to time. The crux of this essay lays in the references at the end. Without these references, there no me, to know me. Pls send me your comments and suggestions to jp_vijaykumar[at]yahoo[dot]com or jp[dot]vijaykumar[at]gmail[dot]com --------------------------->aaa If you write about your physical attributes and accomplishments, WHO AM I? will be ones autobiography. Athman is nirgun nirakar. Athman had no qualities nor shape. --------------------------->aaa In my short span of life, it is an unsurmountable task to understand /realize and know myself, my Athman. --------------------------->aaa Complying to the laws of physics, Athman cannot be created, Athman cannot be destroyed, but Athman changes from one life to another life, through a continuous cycle of births. --------------------------->aaa Once one's Athman, released from one's life takes rebirth into another life. The Athman, will take birth after birth, until the Athman unites with the Almighty, through salvation/ Moksha/ Janmarahithya. --------------------------->aaa

The Athman after death of one life, still trying to accomplish some tasks of past life is known as ghost/devil. A devil is Athman, lurking around to fulfill the unfinished tasks. The Athman may remain as ghost for an uncertain period of time and unites with the Almighty or takes birth into the life of a being. --------------------------->aaa When water is falling, we call it a water fall. When water is flowing, we call it a river or a brook. When water is collected in a shallow place, we call it a lake. We name them, frame them and fame them. What if the water in all these entities dry up? They cease to exist. We had no values for these entities, and mostly no use. What is making them useful, had no recognition or value, which is water. In the same way, the Athman dwelling in a being makes that being alive. The being is having recognition and existence. Why dont we realize the Athman, that is making a being alive. --------------------------->aaa Seize the Athman, before you cease to exist. --------------------------->aaa Athman is like air filled inside a balloon. The balloon had existence. Not the air filled inside the balloon. The inner content/inner-self had no material value to the naked eye. Only the gjyani (learned person) realizes the inner-self/soul/Athman. When the balloon bursts, the inside air comes out of the balloon and merges with the outside air/atmosphere. Likewise when the living being dies, the Athman takes rebirth, or depending on previous pious deeds the Athman unites with the Almighty . Imagine, your Athman, like the air inside a soap bubble. When the bubble bursts the air inside the bubble merges with the outside air. The soap bubble is beautiful, but short lived, the Athman is eternal Athman is like a wild horse. Realize the Athman, when it is enclosed inside you. After a beings death, the Athman comes out and merges into the universe. Then there is no you to realize the Athman. --------------------------->aaa In pitch darkness, you cannot see anything. To see objects, you require light. When there is light, you can see objects. In darkness, you can touch an object and make out. To realize the Athman, you dont require light, you cannot touch it. Through practice and meditation, you can feel it and realize it. --------------------------->aaa Athman changes from one life to another, as we change into new clothes, leaving worn out ones. --------------------------->aaa Imagine Athman like a "AA" battery. You load the "AA" battery into any electronic gadget and make it work. When the "AA" battery is removed, the gadget dies. so is the Athman, moving from life to life, body to body, birth to birth. Without the Athman, the body becomes nonfunctional, a corpse/carcass. Athman is a thread passing through a garland of beads. The beads are lives the Athman takes at different periods from birth to birth. The thread that passes through beads is eternal. The thread is not attached to any of the beads. With a name you are addressing the soul/Athman, during the existence of the Athman in a being. Instead of addressing the bead in a garland with a name, try to address / realize the thread that passes through the beads, the Athman.

When the Athman is transitioning between lives, can you address it? There is no you. --------------------------->aaa Can you see air. No. You can feel the breeze, or when the trees' leaves are trembling, you know that the air is passing by. In a similar fashion, you cannot see the Athman. Only an experienced person/sadhaka can reaize the Athman. It requires a lot of practice and meditation. --------------------------->aaa Hindu's believe in rebirth and some of the oldest religions also believe in rebirth. If many people from different faiths, believe in rebirth, I ask the question, who or what is taking rebirth. Many incidents of people recollecting and remembering their previous life's details, incidents and recognizing people establish and support the belief of rebirth. If these incidents establish rebirth, what is the connection between "X" in the past life to "Y" in the present life. What is it, that took rebirth from x to Y or between one life to another. After the death of X, the Athman moved from the body of X into a new body through rebirth, and that body was named as "Y". At the time of birth, any being had no name. Only after birth, a being is named. Every living being has birth and death. The Athman had no birth and death, it is passing from one life to another. X and Y may be in different conditions like place, gender, faith, species. Depending on the karma, the effect of past deeds of X, impact the condition in which the Athman takes rebirth as Y . During the rebirth, the soul assumes a different name, identity, appearance and life. It is not some XYZ, taking rebirth. The name XYZ refers to a person with body. It is the inner-self / Soul / Athman that is taking rebirth. Whatever is my name, refers to the transient period of the Athman from birth to death of the current life. I do not know the Athman. --------------------------->aaa In the anicient India, a phenominon called parakaya pravesam is practised. During parakaya pravesa, one's Athman leaves one's body and enters a dead body. During this period of parakaya pravesam the Athman with the knowledge of the earlier life and lives in a dead body without the knowledge of that dead beings past life. The Athman assumes a different identity like name, address, nationality and appearance, as in a rebirth, during the process of parakaya pravesam. The one known parakaya pravesa from the hindu mythology, was practised by sage Shankaracharya. Shankaracharya entered into the dead body of the king by means of his parakaya pravesa vidya. [Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamruthamu Chapter] --------------------------->aaa Parakaya pravesa is similar to rebirth of the Athman into another life. In parakara pravesa, the Athman leaves the current body at will, assumes the identity of another life by joining a dead beings body. After some time, the Athman at will returns to the previously left body, leaving the current body. In parakaya pravesa, the Athman can move back and forth among bodies at will.

In the case of a rebirth, the Athman leaves the current body after death and takes rebirth into a new life. In case of rebirth, the Athman passes into a new life, and this process is mostly not at will, and is only one way. No comebacks. --------------------------->aaa when the Athman is so attached to the past life and trying to complete the tasks of the past life, even after the death of past life is known as a ghost. The Athman is still trying to accomplish tasks of the past life. Until the past lifes tasks are completed, the ghost, will stay in the surroundings of the past life and try to communicate with the people living around. --------------------------->aaa Once a Guru was conducting a test for accepting a disciple into his ashram/gurukul. The Guru gave one dove to the prospective disciple and asked him to kill the dove, when no one is around. The disciple tried to kill the dove, there were people around and he could not kill the dove. Then he took the dove into a remote forest and tried to kill the dove, when nobody was around, then dove is seeing him. The disciple, stayed in the remote forest and tried to kill the dove, while the dove was sleeping. Then his inner-self/soul/Athman/consciousness is observing the act of killing the dove, he could not kill the dove. Finally he returned the dove to the Guru, without completing the assigned task. Then the Guru, said, as long as you recognize and accept the presence of your conscience/inner-self/soul/Athman, you are on the right track and I am accepting you into my gurukul/ashram(institute). Your conscience is your Athman/soul. --------------------------->aaa Athman is intangible. Athman may be living in different species at different times from birth to birth. Athman may be living in multiple persons/species at the same time without the knowledge or connection to all those different lives. --------------------------->aaa It is easy to argue that there is no God/Athman. It is the trouble of the believer to prove the existence of God/Athman with verifiable texts/tests/results. --------------------------->aaa I execute a program on my computer, boom, I get the result of my program. The cpu is taking the program, executing the program and displaying the results on the monitor. Likewise, if I ask you, who are you? I am so and so is the answer from you. Who is actually giving this answer, I am so and so - the Athman / inner-self/soul. A computer without bios, os and power is defunct. A body without Athman is a corpse/carcass. The person, who practices meditation/yoga can understand/reslize the Athman. In the initial stages, the practitioner has to undergo rigourous practice of meditation/yoga, to come out of the influence of the body and its influence on the Athman. God is omnipresent. God is present in everything and at everywhere. The person who realizes the Athman realizes God. --------------------------->aaa Once, in Kasi, when Sri Sankara was going to the Vishwanath Temple, his path was blocked by an "untouchable" who was accompanied by his wife and 4 dogs. The disciples of Sri Sankara shouted at him to make way, and to keep a distance. The untouchable smiled and said, "According to your principle of Advaita, which you practice, all the Jivatma

are same as God. How do you ask me to go? How am I different from your Paramacharya? What you say is unreasonable. How can I go away from myself?" Sri Sankara realised that it was not an ordinary person and understood that it was Lord Shiva himself who had come along with His consort and the four Vedas. He prostrated before the Lord and sang five slokas called "Manisha Panchakam". Lord Shiva presented himself along with Visalakshi and blessed Sri Sankara. --------------------------->aaa To unravel and explain the phenomenon of human rebirth, discover Athman and its passage from one life to another . The life ends with death, but the Athman takes rebirth into another life. This cycle of the Athman taking birth after birth continues, until the Athman unites with the Almighty in Janmarahitha/Moksha/Salvation. It is unknown, whatever, wherever and whenever be the next birth, if any, the Athman takes. --------------------------->aaa If I want to learn swimming, I need to get into water, start kicking my legs, stroking my hands. Just mugging the book swimming for dummies will not help . To realize my Athman, I need to practice meditation/yoga only. --------------------------->aaa Do you know cycling? If you know, how you learnt cycling? Do you know swimming? If you know, how you learnt swimming? No matter how much theory you assimilate, how much training you undergo, you have to practice it. It is by practice you learn and perfect it. Realize your inner-self/soul/Athman, as you learnt cycling and swimming. You can explore and realize your Athman, through meditation and practice only. The experience of self realization is beyond description and unimaginable. The real experience is more beautiful beyond words. --------------------------->aaa Athman had no death. Athman is eternal. Know your Athman. --------------------------->aaa The human body is mortal. The Athman is immortal. Athmasakshathkara. Seeing/ realizing your inner-self/Athman. --------------------------->aaa Until we realize our Athman, we think that the Athman and the body are inseparable/one and the same. The jyani looks at the Athman and the body as two separate entities. The Athman had no pain / comfort / joy / grief. Only the body undergoes all these experiences. --------------------------->aaa Sole owner of the body is soul. Soul is eternal Soul is immortal, sole is mortal. --------------------------->ach

When you close your eyes, still you can monitor your sensory organs. Stop monitoring your sensory organs and concentrate on your inner-self. Then you realize your inner-self. --------------------------->adjectives I just filled pages and pages of adjectives about the Athman. The adjectives perish. The Athman, the pronoun is eternal. Know your Athman. --------------------------->chess To win a game of chess, you exchange some pawns and eliminate your opponents powers and check mate the game. In a similar fashion, eliminate your ego/pride and explore your inner-self, your Athman. Do not associate yourself with any physical or logical attributes. The Athman dwells in a body with no strings attached. --------------------------->debug When my computer program does not work, I test the program, module by module and eliminate the possibilities and narrow down my search, until I find the bug and fix it. Eliminate the ego and other thoughts and search for the Athman in yourself. --------------------------->meditation I find very little time for meditation. I practice this strategy during meditation. When I am about to sleep, I start two thoughts. One, chanting the mantra sree rama jaya rama jaya jaya rama at a slow pace. The second thought process will be searching for the origin of the first thought. When the second thought process is probing for the origin of the first thought process chanting the mantra, my heart beat will constantly distracts me. To avoid this distraction, I slow the pace of my breath, somewhat like pranayama. In between my breaths, I pursue my search. I found this process very helpful. One day, I will find the origin of the thoughts and realize who am I?, until then, I am blessed with good sleep. --------------------------->mind My TV takes instructions from a remote control and function. When the remote control is pressed, the TV processes the instructions from the remote control and functions accordingly. Internally, every living being is taking instructions from its remote control. Here the remote control is the inner-self/soul/Athman. --------------------------->name A certain "XYZ" name refers a living being, while the Athman is dwelling in that being. A name is a proper noun. A noun is the name of a person, place or thing. To be precise, a noun is the name of a being, place or thing. A being's name refers that being, while the Athman is dwelling in that being. A being may be any being. An animal/insect may not realize the Athman. But a person, with practice and meditation can explore/realize the Athman. A name addresses a person When that person is alive and responsive. The Athman, within you, responds in an appropriate manner, on hearing the name. When the person is dead, there is no Athman , there is no response. A body without the Athman is a corpse.A corpse is unresponsive. --------------------------->name

At the time of your birth, you just don't know anything about yourself. You just know only two things hunger and pain. When you were born, you were given a name, the meaning and significance of which you don't know. You keep that name until your death, or you may change it, to another name. Your name addresses your physical person. --------------------------->name The Athman had no name. The Athman is a variable, that takes any name from time to time or from birth to birth. The address area of the Athman is volatile, and can be assigned with any name from time to time or from birth to death. Explore and understand the Athman which is eternal, not the address area, your variable name. --------------------------->name At times, when somebody is waving at you or summons you, you take appropriate action. What does this mean? You can be addressed by gestures also. Your innerself is responding appropriately. When you are alone, whatever sound you hear, you respond and turn your head. That does not mean any name/sound /gesture can address you. As long as your innerperson is attentive and the physical person is in consciousness, your attention can be diverted. Sometimes, through you are awake and conscious, your innerself is engrossed in some other subject and may become unresponsive to external addressings/happenings. In reality the Athman had no name. When there are more beings, assigning names/variables will ease the addressing mechanism of individual beings. --------------------------->name If your are working in secret services, or defence or in a sensitive project, you will be assigned a code number or badge number, to protect your identity. In that situation your code number or a badge number also refers you, during the period of your assignment. If then you ask yourself, who am I? then you may answer with your name, or your badge number or code number. Because, all these things refer you under the specific conditions. So who is this I that responds to all these addressing mechanisms, your name, your code number, your badge number? --------------------------->name Your name is a variable used to address the Athman during the current life from birth till next name change/death. --------------------------->name Your name addresses none before your birth and none after your death, unless identical names existed. It just refers to the period of the Athmans transition from your birth till death. --------------------------->name When you were born, you are nobody. Just an entity. You were assigned to a variable, that becomes your name. From then on, you are addressed by that assigned variable. At any time, you can change your name and be addressed with a new name. So the name you were addressed is only a variable that makes your inner-self to respond. The way you are addressed can be changed at any time and any number of times. The "YOU" is constant. Then who are you? There is something within you, that responds, when you are addressed by your name. That is your inner-self, the Athman. After death your name, addresses none. --------------------------->name

I lived in many cities / many places. In all these locations I am the same person. But my mailing address changed, from place to place. My name refers me till my death or till I change my name to a new name. Similar to my ever changing mailing address, the lives of the Athman are ever changing in species and gender from birth to birth. Whatever currently I say as "I" refers to this current body during this life. Who keeps on saying this big I? The inner-self, moving from birth to birth, repeating the big "I". If I ask myself who am i?", some of my answers are: I am son of my parents. I am a student in some school or college. I am an IT professional/ or whatever is my profession. All the above are not correct answers. To answer the question, I need to describe my inner-self. To describe my inner-self, I should realize my inner-self/Athman first. It is very difficult to describe my inner-self, as the Athman had no attributes, whatsoever. The Athman had no death, no shape, nor attributes. On hearing your name, what makes you to respond? There will be no response from you, while you were asleep or dead. In all other times, what is that from within you, that responds, and without which, you will be unresponsive. That is the spirit, the Athman , that makes you responsive. --------------------------->name The name of a living being, addresses that being. The inner-self had no name, it can take any name from time to time. It is like an address area in a computer memory, which is volatile. --------------------------->name Any name addresses a person from birth to death. Before the birth of a person, that persons name did not exist, after that persons death, the name just point to a person in history. --------------------------->name I am so and so. Who am I? I know almost everything about myself about my physical and mental attributes, but I do not know anything about me before my birth nor what happens to me after my death. I do not know anything about my inner-self, Athman, that is dwelling in this body. --------------------------->nuclear

The core of matter, is having vast amounts of energy. So is the core of being, the Athman, is having vast powers. Know yourself/ Athman. To reach the core of yourself, your inner-self, remove the layers of ego/pride and realize the Athman. --------------------------->practice To realize oneself and to attain moksha, you go to remote forests and do penance. So that, all the worldly distractions/disturbances are avoided, and the mind concentrates only on meditation. --------------------------->see I did not see the Athman and dont believe in Athman.

I do believe in ghosts. What is a ghost? The Athman of a dead being, trying to fulfill its past lifes tasks. The ghost is the Athman in transition between previous death and future birth. Once the Athmans tasks are completed, the Athman takes a new life through rebirth/ may unite with the Almighty. --------------------------->see Many of us often look at ourselves, our external self(physical appearance) passionately. There are mirrors to look at our external selves. You can look at things and at your external self through your naked eyes. To look at your inner-self, your Athman, see through your mano netram, minds eye. I cannot look at my face. I can only look at others faces. I can touch my face and feel it. I can look at my face in a mirror. In a similar way, look at your Athman, through meditation/yoga. How many of us observed our inner-selves. --------------------------->see All your life, you were seeing the outside world. From now on, try to see into yourself and explore. Look into yourself. --------------------------->see Look at a photo frame with your portrait in it . A photo frame only displays the picture inside the photo frame. The glass in the photo frame is transparent and does not reflect light rays. A photo frame is not a mirror and does not reflect images. But with little practice, you can use the photo frame to see your reflection. To use the photo frame as a mirror, you need to put the photo frame at a different angle and adjust the light. Similarly, if you are the photo frame. You are always seeing the your physical person, your external appearance, your protrait. Try to see your inner-self, the Athman in the photo frame, you need to adjust the photo frame to reflect images, besides your portrait. Train yourself to look at your external self and innerself in the same photo frame. --------------------------->stages Birth and death are inevitable to every living being. Athman is ageless, had no birth and death. Athman is eternal. --------------------------->stages After all, I am what I am. At the end of the day, I am the same old person that had weathered all these years of life's unimaginable twists and turns. --------------------------->stages I am this, I am that, I am old, I am ok, I am not ok. Who is ok? I am ok. Who is this "I"? Who am I? --------------------------->stages I was a chemist, a banker, I am a mathematician, a teacher, a carpenter, a gardener, a database administrator. I was changing from career to career. Throughout my career changes, the I remained unchanged. Who is this "I". My name XYZ addresses the embodiment of the Athman, this I. Who is this "I"? Who am I? But throughout I am the same old person. My way of thinking unchanged. I am what I am.

I changed in profession, in appearance, age. But the "I" remained the same. Who am I? --------------------------->stages At the time of your birth, you are just an entity. You had no choice of your race, colour, sex or economic status. You are whatever you were at the time of your birth. --------------------------->transport I should believe in myself/ my inner-self/Athman. I may a theist and believe in God. Or I may be an atheist, who does not believe in God. Before all, if I am sane, I should believe in myself, my inner self. --------------------------->IDIOMS IDIOMS AND PHRASES/QUOTATIONS --------------------------->attachment/detachment Bodies devoid of mind are as statues in the market place. - Euripides Bound souls, worldly people, are like silk-worms. The worms can cut through their cocoons if they want, but having woven the cocoons themselves, they are too much attached to them to leave them. And so they die there. ..Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Everybody continues to be in its state of rest or of uniform motion, unless the body is compelled by an external force. .Newtons second law of motion. As rivers, flowing down, become indistinguishable on reaching the sea by giving up their names and forms, so also the illumined soul, having become freed from name and form, reaches the self effulgent Supreme Self - Mundaka Upanishad The stream of life: An individual human existence should be like a river small at first, narrowly contained within its banks, and rushing passionately past boulders and over waterfalls. Gradually the river grows wider, the banks recede, the waters flow more quietly and in the end, without any visible break, they become merged in the sea, and painlessly lose their individual being. The man who, in old age, can see life this way will not suffer from the fear of death, since the things he cares for will continue. Bertrand Russell in Portraits from Memory Disease is the tax which the soul pays for the use of the body, as the tenant pays house rent for the use of the house. -Flashes from Sri Ramaksirhna p-19 Seek refuge in the attitude of detachment and you will amass the wealth of spiritual awareness. Those who are motivated only by the fruits of action are miserable, for they constantly are worried about the results of what they do. .. Bhagavad Gita The person whose mind is always free from attachment, who has subdued the mind and senses, and who is free from desires, attains the supreme perfection of freedom from Karma through renunciation. Bhagavad Gita When there is no 'Me" that is liberation, and when there is "Me" there is bondage. Considering this earnestly, do not hold on and do not reject. Ashtavakra Gita Any person, whether man or woman, who worships Me with loving devotion, offering his or her prescribed duties unto Me without material attachment, is understood to be situated in goodness. Udhava Gita --------------------------->Athman There is neither unity nor duality in Athman, nor unity-duality, neither smallness nor greatness, neither emptiness nor fullness. All these exist in the mind, and the mind is not Athman. ..Avadhuta Gita

In Athman there is neither manhood nor womanhood, because such conceptions cannot exist in eternity. ..Avadhuta Gita The wise discover that Athman is not seen either by the study of the Vedas, by initiations, by shaving the head, or by being a Guru or chela (an approved disciple). Nor is it seen through postures. ..Avadhuta Gita Athman is dependent on nothing and is unlimited. The law of cause and effect touches it not. How can the buddhi (intellect), which operates only in duality, and which is perishable, discern It? ..Avadhuta Gita It is all one whether we live in a hut in retirement or in a house with many kinfolk, for Athman is free from the multitude as from solitude. ..Avadhuta Gita There has never been a time when you and I have not existed, nor will there be a time when we will cease to exist. As the same person inhabits the body through childhood, youth, and old age, so too at the time of death he attains another body. The wise are not deluded by these changes. ..Bhagavad Gita The body is mortal, but the person dwelling in the body is immortal and immeasurable. ..Bhagavad Gita The Adi Guru (first Guru) Dakshinamurthy himself couldnt explain the self (AAthman) in words and hence remained in silence. Dakshinamurthy = Dakshina (Right side) + Murthy (Formless). It means right side of our body, positioned at heart, the one who resides without form is DakshinaMurthy and i.e., the self (AAthman). http://www.srinannagaru.com/articles/english/amv/Aatma.php --------------------------->brahman Aham Brahmasmi - I am God (God lives in you) Brahman is beyond vidya and avidya, knowledge and ignorance. It is beyond maya, the illusion of duality. ..Ramakrishna Paramahamsa In samadhi one attains the Knowledge of Brahman one realizes Brahman. In that state reasoning stops altogether, and man becomes mute. He has no power to describe the nature of Brahman. ..Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Being first in a state of changelessness and then thoroughly forgetting (even) that state owing to the cognition of the (true) nature of Brahman (infinite consciousness) this is called Samadhi. Tejo-Bindu Upanishad That which is consciousness alone which is all-pervading, which is eternal, which is all-full, which is of the form of bliss and which is indestructible, is the only true Brahman (infinite consciousness). Varaha Upanishad Those who are clever in arguments about Brahman, but are without the action pertaining to Brahman (infinite consciousness) and who are greatly attached to the world those certainly are born again and again (in this world) through their Ajnana (ignorance). Tejo-Bindu Upanishad Pleasure conceived in the world of the senses have a begining and an end and give birth to misery, Arjuna. The wise do not look for happiness in them. But those who overcome the impulses of lust and anger which arise in the body are made whole and live in joy. They find their joy, their rest, and their light completely within themselves. United with the Lord, they attain nirvana in Brahmam ..Bhagawad Gita 5:22-24 This syllable Om is indeed Brahmam. This syllable is the highest. Whosoever knows this syllable obtains all he desires .. Katha Upanishad 1.2.16

When all longings that are in the heart vanish, then a mortal becomes immortal and attains Brahman (infinite consciousness) here. - Katha Upanishad --------------------------->omnipresent Still your mind in me, still yourself in me, and without a doubt you shall be united with me, Lord of Love, dwelling in your heart. Bhagavad Gita In the begining was only Being, One without a second. Out of himself he brought forth the cosmos. And entered into everything in it. There is nothing that does not come from him. Of everything he is the inmost self. He is the truth; he is the Self supreme. You are that, you are that .. Chandogya Upanishad All this universe is in the glory of God, of Siva, the God of love. The heads and faces of men are His own, and He is in the hearts of all. Yajur Veda --------------------------->death Do your duty in the world but remember that the "pestle of death" will some time smash your hand. Be alert about it. ..Ramakrishna Paramahamsa For that which is born death is certain, and for the dead birth is certain. Therefore grieve not over that which is unavoidable. ..Bhagavat Gita Niryana / nirvana / nirvikalpa --------------------------->desire Bondage is the imagination prompted by the desire for the eight powers. Niralamba Upanishad Yadhbhava thadhbhavathi As you sow so shall you reap. All that we are is the result of what we have thought. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him. Buddha Here they say that a person consists of desires. And as is his desire, so is his will. As is his will, so is his deed. Whatever deed he does, that he will reap. One becomes virtuous by virtuous actions, bad by bad actions. ..Shukla Yajur Veda, Brihadharanyaka Upanishad, 4.4 Now man is made of determination(Kratu); accordingly to what his determination is in this world so will he be when he has departed this life. ..Shankara, Vedanta Sutra 1.2.1 Action is the product of the qualities inherent in nature ..Bhagavad Gita Actions reflect intentions. Intentions portray actions .. Sundaram Jammalamadaka --------------------------->dharma Dharmam, ardham, kamam, moksham ..Chathurvidha phala purushardhamulu Dharmao rakshathi rakshithaha Vidyuktha dharmam (Discharge your duties as expected of you)

Nishkama karma (discharging ones responsibility without expecting anything in return) Chiththa sudhdhi (sincerity) Krushitho nasty durbiksham Nabhootho nabhavathi Nulli secundus (Second to none) Kuputro jayathe kwachadapi, kumatha nabhavathi (There may be a bad son, but not a bad mother) Jathasya maranam druvam (For every being born, death is inevitable) Saardhakatha (Utilitarian value) Vardhakyam (Old age) Balyam, kowmaram, yavvanam,vrudhyapyam --------------------------->karma As the blazing fire reduces wood to ashes, similarly, the fire of Self-knowledge reduces all Karma to ashes. Bhagavad Gita Karma comes in search of you, as a calf finds its mother in a herd of cattle .. Githa Until realization there will be karma, that is action and reaction. After realization there will be no karma and no world. ..Ramana Maharshi For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction .. Newtons third law or motion Prarabda karma (Whatever is destined to happen) / Fatalist Bhudhdhi karmanusare (As is your karma, so is your thinking) Fate leads him who follows it and drags him who resists it. Geetha The effects of your good deeds and bad deeds will come in search of you, as a calf searching its mother in heard of cattle. -- Geetha --------------------------->direction One should keep pictures of holy men in one's room. That constantly quickens divine ideas. ..Ramakrishna Paramahamsa The senses have been conditioned by attraction to the pleasant and aversion to the unpleasant: a man should not be ruled by them; they are obstacles in his path. Bhagavad Gita The Athman is the master of the chariot. It is an Upanishadic analogy to comprehend the innate divinity of man. The Katha Upanishad shows us a path to realize this divine within, through proper training and control of the mind and senses, by developing the faculty of discrimination .. The Katha Upanishad. --------------------------->god and love I look upon the creatures equally, none are less dear to me and none are more dear to me. -Bhagawad Githa 9.29 God is love. If you must be mad, be it not for the things of the world. Be mad with the love of God. - Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Lord of creation! no one other than thee pervades all these that have come into being. May that be ours for which our prayers rise; may we be masters of many treasures. ..Rig Veda 10.121.10

Love of God and love of neighbour are the two sides inward and outward, of a truly religious soul. -Dr Radhakrishnan The unknown is God. the unexpected I leave it to God and sleep in peace. How life takes, its twists and turns and always presents you with the unimaginable climax. that is the miracle of the creator

One must become mad with love in order to realize God. But that love is not possible if the mind dwells on 'woman and gold'. Sex-life with a woman! What happiness is there in that? The realization of God gives ten million times more happiness. Gauri used to say that when a man attains ecstatic love of God all the pores of the skin, even the roots of the hair, become like so many sexual organs, and in every pore the aspirant enjoys the happiness of communion with the Athman. ..Ramakrishna Paramahamsa The formless Absolute is my Father, and God with form is my Mother. God reveals Himself in the form of which His devotees loves most. His love for the devotees knows no bounds. Ramakrishna Paramahamsa --------------------------->happiness The Infinite is the source of joy. There is no joy in the finite. Only in the Infinite is there joy. Ask to know the Infinite. ..Chandogya Upanishad 7.23 There is neither Self-knowledge nor Self-perception to those whose senses are not under control. Without Self-perception there is no peace; and without peace there can be no happiness. -- Bhagavat Gita --------------------------->hell Hell has three gates: lust, anger, and greed --------------------------->i All trouble and botheration come to an end when the 'I' dies ..Ramakrishna Paramahamsa A man is able to see God as soon as he gets rid of ego and other limitations. He sees God as soon as he is free from such feelings as 'I am a scholar', 'I am the son of such and such a person', 'I am wealthy', 'I am honourable', and so forth. ..Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Attention to one's own Self, which is ever shining as `I', the one undivided and pure reality, is the only raft with which the individual, who is deluded by thinking `I am the body', can cross the ocean of unending births. ..Ramana Maharshi Search for the source of the `I'-thought. That is all that one has to do. The universe exists on account of the `I'-thought. If that ends there is an end to misery also. The false `I' will end only when its source is sought. ..Ramana Maharshi One ultimately discovers God by trying to know who this ' I ' is. Is this ' I ' the flesh, the bones, the blood, or the marrow? Is it the mind or the buddhi? Analysing thus, you realize at last that you are none of these. This is called the process of 'Neti, neti', 'Not this, not this'. One can neither comprehend nor touch the Athman. It is without qualities or attributes. ..Ramakrishna Paramahamsa While striving for the realization of God, the aspirant has to practice renunciation, applying the logic of 'Neti, neti''Not this, not this', But after attaining the vision of God, he realizes that God alone has become all things. ..Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Bhagavad Gita

Find the source. You must reach the source without fail. The false `I' will disappear and the real `I' will be realized. The former cannot exist apart from the latter. There is now wrong identification of the Self with the body, senses, etc. You proceed to discard these, and this is neti. This can be done only by holding to the one which cannot be discarded. That is it [that which is]. ..Ramana Maharshi See whose thoughts they are. They will vanish. They have their root in the single `I'-thought. Hold it and they will disappear. ..Ramana Maharshi The birth of the `I'-thought is one's own birth, its death is the person's death. After the `I'-thought has arisen, the wrong identity with the body arises. Get rid of the `I'-thought. So long as `I' is alive there is grief. When `I' ceases to exist there is no grief. ..Ramana Maharshi The ego's phenomenal existence is transcended when you dive into the source from where the `I'-thought rises. ..Ramana Maharshi The I which makes a man worldly and attached to lus t and wealth is mischievous. The individual soul and the Universal Being are separated because this I comes in between them. If a stick is placed on the surface of water, the water will appear to be devided into two sections. The stick is the Aham the I. Take that away, and the water becomes again undivided. Flashes from Sri Ramakrishna p-8 The mind will subside only by means of the enquiry `Who am I?' The thought 'Who am I?', destroying all other thoughts, will itself finally be destroyed like the stick used for stirring the funeral pyre. If other thoughts rise one should, without attempting to complete them, enquire `To whom did they rise?' What does it matter however many thoughts rise? At the very moment that each thought rises, if one vigilantly enquires `To whom did this rise?', it will be known `To me'. If one then enquires `Who am I?', the mind will turn back to its source [the Self] and the thought which had risen will also subside. By repeatedly practising thus, the power of the mind to abide in its source increases. ..Ramana Maharshi The mind is nothing other than the `I'-thought. The mind and the ego are one and the same. ..Ramana Maharshi The thought `l am this body of flesh and blood' is the one thread on which are strung the various other thoughts. Therefore, if we turn inwards enquiring `Where is this I?' all thoughts (including the `I'-thought) will come to an end and Self-knowledge will then spontaneously shine forth. ..Ramana Maharshi The mind is nothing but thoughts. Now behind every particular thought there is a general thought, which is the `I', that is yourself. Let us call this `I' the first thought. Stick to this `I'-thought and question it to find out what it is. When this question takes strong hold on you, you cannot think of other thoughts. ..Ramana Maharshi I do not say that you must go on rejecting thoughts. Cling to yourself, that is, to the `I'-thought. When your interest keeps you to that single idea, other thoughts will automatically get rejected and they will vanish. ..Ramana Maharshi You have to ask yourself the question `Who am I ?' This investigation will lead in the end to the discovery of something within you which is behind the mind. Solve that great problem and you will solve all other problems. ..Ramana Maharshi Just on waking from sleep and before becoming aware of the world there is that pure `I, I'. Hold on to it without sleeping or without allowing thoughts to possess you. ..Ramana Maharshi To enquire `Who am I ?' really means trying to find out the source of the ego or the `I'-thought.

You are not to think of other thoughts, such as `I am not this body'. Seeking the source of `I' serves as a means of getting rid of all other thoughts. We should not give scope to other thoughts, such as you mention, but must keep the attention fixed on finding out the source of the `I' - thought by asking, as each thought arises, to whom the thought arises. If the answer is `I get the thought' continue the enquiry by asking `Who is this "I" and what is its source?` ..Ramana Maharshi You need not eliminate the wrong `I'. How can `I' eliminate itself ? All that you need do is to find out its origin and abide there. ..Ramana Maharshi The ignorance is identical with the `I'-thought. Find its source and it will vanish. ..Ramana Maharshi The `I'-thought is like a spirit which, although not palpable, rises up simultaneously with the body, flourishes and disappears with it. The body-consciousness is the wrong `I'. Give up this bodyconsciousness. It is done by seeking the source of the `I'. The body does not say `I am'. It is you who say, `I am the body '. Find out who this `I' is. Seeking its source it will vanish. ..Ramana Maharshi `Who am I ?' is not a mantra. It means that you must find out where in you arises the `I'-thought which is the source of all other thoughts. ..Ramana Maharshi After the rise of the `I'-thought there is the false identification of the `I' with the body, the senses, the mind, etc. `I' is wrongly associated with them and the true `I' is lost sight of.. ..Ramana Maharshi In the enquiry `Who am I?', `I' is the ego. The question really means, what is the source or origin of this ego? You need not have any bhavana [attitude] in the mind. All that is required is that you must give up the bhavana that you are the body, of such and such a description, with such and such a name, etc. There is no need to have a bhavana about your real nature. It exists as it always does. It is real and no bhavana. ..Ramana Maharshi Self-enquiry is certainly not an empty formula and it is more than the repetition of any mantra. If the enquiry `Who am I?' were a mere mental questioning, it would not be of much value. The very purpose of self-enquiry is to focus the entire mind at its source. It is not, therefore, a case of one `I' searching for another `I'. Much less is self-enquiry an empty formula, for it involves an intense activity of the entire mind to keep it steadily poised in pure Self-awareness. ..Ramana Maharshi What is your real nature? Is it writing, walking or being? The one unalterable reality is being. Until you realize that state of pure being you should pursue the enquiry. If once you are established in it there will be no further worry. No one will enquire into the source of thoughts unless thoughts arise. So long as you think `I am walking' or `I am writing', enquire who does it. ..Ramana Maharshi Holding the mind and investigating it is advised for a beginner. But what is mind after all? It is a projection of the Self. See for whom it appears and from where it rises. The `I'-thought will be found to be the rootcause. Go deeper. The `I'-thought disappears and there is an infinitely expanded 'I'-consciousness. ..Ramana Maharshi The feeling `I work' is the hindrance. Ask yourself `Who works?' Remember who you are. Then the work will not bind you, it will go on automatically. Make no effort either to work or to renounce; it is your effort which is the bondage. What is destined to happen will happen. If you are destined not to work, work cannot be had even if you hunt for it. If you are destined to work, you will not be able to avoid it and you will be forced to engage yourself in it. So, leave it to the higher power; you cannot renounce or retain as you choose. ..Ramana Maharshi If prompted by egoism you think I will not fight; this determination of yours is vain. Nature will compel you to fight .. Gita Fate leads him who follows it and drags him who resists it .. Githa

The more you get fixed in the Self the more other thoughts will drop off of themselves. The mind is nothing but a bundle of thoughts, and the `I'-thought is the root of all of them. When you see who this `I' is and find out where it comes from all thoughts get merged in the Self. ..Ramana Maharshi If you are not the body and do not have the idea `I am the doer', the consequences of your good or bad actions will not affect you. Why do you say about the actions the body performs `I do this' or `I did that'? As long as you identify yourself with the body like that you are affected by the consequences of the actions, that is to say, while you identify with the body you accumulate good and bad karma. ..Ramana Maharshi So long as the feeling `I am doing' is there, one must experience the result of one's acts, whether they are good or bad. How is it possible to wipe out one act with another ? When the feeling that `I am doing' is lost, nothing affects a man. Unless one realizes the Self, the feeling `I am doing' will never vanish. ..Ramana Maharshi A strong conviction is necessary that `I am the Self, transcending the mind and the phenomena.' ..Ramana Maharshi We identify the `I' with a body, we regard the Self as having a body, and as having limits, and hence all our trouble. All that we have to do is to give up identifying the Self with the body, with forms and limits, and then we shall know ourselves as the Self that we always are. ..Ramana Maharshi This `I'-thought is not pure. It is contaminated with the association of the body and senses. See to whom the trouble is. It is to the `I'-thought. Hold it. Then the other thoughts vanish. ..Ramana Maharshi Hold the `I'-thought and find its source. ..Ramana Maharshi Only the quest `Who am I?' is necessary. What remains all through deep sleep and waking is the same. But in waking there is unhappiness and the effort to remove it. Asked who wakes up from sleep you say `I'. Now you are told to hold fast to this `I'. If it is done the eternal being will reveal itself. Investigation of `I' is the point. ..Ramana Maharshi If one surrenders oneself there will be no one to ask questions or to be thought of. Either the thoughts are eliminated by holding on to the root-thought `I', or one surrenders oneself unconditionally to the higher power. These are the only two ways for realization. ..Ramana Maharshi There are two ways. One is looking into the source of `I' and merging into that source. The other is feeling `I am helpless by myself, God alone is all-powerful and except by throwing myself completely on him, there is no other means of safety for me. By this method one gradually develops the conviction that God alone exists and that the ego does not count. Both methods lead to the same goal. Complete surrender is another name for jnana or liberation. ..Ramana Maharshi Complete surrender does require that you have no desire of your own. You must be satisfied with whatever God gives you and that means having no desires of your own. ..Ramana Maharshi By whatever path you go, you will have to lose yourself in the one. Surrender is complete only when you reach the stage `Thou art all' and `Thy will be done'. ..Ramana Maharshi The proper way to get rid of a desire is to find out `Who gets the desire? What is its source?' When this is found, the desire is rooted out and it will never again emerge or grow. ..Ramana Maharshi Realising, "I am not the body", "nor is the body mine". "I am awareness" one attains the supreme state and no longer remembers things done or undone. Ashtavakra Gita Giving up such distinctions as "This is what I am", and "I am not that", recognise that "Everything is myself", and be without distinction and happy. Ashtavakra Gita

I salute the light within your eyes where the whole universe dwells. For when you are at that center within you and I am at that place within me, we shall be one. - Chief Crazy Horse, Oglala Sioux, 1877 --------------------------->mind I used to think that the brain was the most wonderful organ in my body. Then I realized who was telling me this. Emo Phillips Again people often ask how the mind is controlled. I say to them, `Show me the mind and then you will know what to do.' The fact is that the mind is only a bundle of thoughts. How can you extinguish it by the thought of doing so or by a desire? Your thoughts and desires are part and parcel of the mind. The mind is simply fattened by new thoughts rising up. Therefore it is foolish to attempt to kill the mind by means of the mind. The only way of doing it is to find its source and hold on to it. The mind will then fade away of its own accord. ..Ramana Maharshi God cannot be known by the sense-organs or by this mind; but He can be known by the pure mind, the mind that is free from worldiy desires. ..Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Governing sense, mind and intellect, intent on liberation, free from desire, fear and anger, the sage is forever free Bhagavad Gita It is indeed the mind that is the cause of mens bondage and liberation. The mind that is attached to sense-objects leads to bondage, while dissociated from sense-objects it tends to lead to liberation. Amrita-Bindu Upanishad It is in love that religion exists and not in ceremony-in the pure and sincere love in the heart. Unless a man is pure in body and mind, his coming into a temple and worshipping Shiva is useless. The prayers of those who are pure in mind and body will be answered by Shiva, and those who are impure and yet to try teach religion to others will fail in the end. External worship is only a symbol of internal worship, but internal worship and purity are the real things. Without them, external worship should be of no avail ..Vivekananda The mind acts like an enemy for those who do not control it .. Gita A man's own self is his friend. A man's own self is his foe. ..Bhagavad Gita The mind is restless and difficult to restrain, but it is subdued by practice ..Gita When my mind began to meditate on Thee, it lost all interest in objects. When my tongue began to praise Thee it lost the power of praising others. ..Avadhuta Gita --------------------------->money/time Money is not power, but goodness and holiness are .. Swami Vivekananda Knowledge is power. Time and tide wait for none. Time is money --------------------------->not the doer/tool

The power of God is with you at all times; through the activities of mind, senses, breathing, and emotions; and is constantly doing all the work using you as a mere instrument. - Bhagavad Gita The present difficulty is that man thinks he is the doer. But it is a mistake. It is the higher power which does everything and man is only a tool. If he accepts that position he is free from troubles, otherwise he courts them. ..Ramana Maharshi You are not the Doer / Experiencer Ashtavakra Gita - 13 --------------------------->odd Any fool can ask questions, so that the best informed can not answer. If yes why yes, if not why not. From cradle to grave/ leaving no stone unturned. Nirgun nirakara(Athman had no qualities nor shape) Example is better than teaching. Art is long life is short To have more desire less -Talmud A man remains wise as long as he seeks wisdom; as soon as he thinks he has found it, he becomes a fool Talmud A known devil is better than an unknown God. Forgiveness is the true nature of the ascetic ..Flashes from Sri Ramakrishna p-13 I take your hand in mine for happiness, that you may reach old age with me as husband. Bhaga, Savitri, Aryaman, Purandhi, have given you to be my households mistresses. Rig Veda x,85,36 Life is a spirit .. realize it Dont drink it.

Look into yourself .. Ramana Maharshi Question the questioner .. Ramana Maharshi On this path effort never goes waste, and there is no failure. Even a little effort toward spiritual awareness will protect you from the greatest fear. Bhagavad Gita Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached ..Swami Vivekananda Ours is to work the results will take care of themselves .. Swami Vivekananda Pursue studying, study pursuing ..Sundaram Jammalamadaka In mathematics, to solve a variable, you need atleast two equations. Life is many variables, with one equation or none. Sundaram Jammalamadaka Suicide is a heinous sin, undoubtedly. A man who kills himself must return again and again to this world and suffer its agony. ..Ramakrishna Paramahamsa The wearer only knows where the shoe pinches

To shuffle of this mortal coil. Child is the father of the man .. William Wordsworth Every rule has got an exception. But every exception does not imply a rule. Everything has got its merits and demerits. If yes, why yes, if not, why not. It is a good idea to keep your words soft and sweet; you never know when you may have to eat them .. E W Howe No saint was honoured in his day. Every dog will have it's day. Too much is too bad. Too much of love for God, will lead you to Moksha/Salvation/Janmarahithya. Setting apart time for meditation is only for the merest spiritual novices. A man who is advancing will begin to enjoy the deeper be atitude whether he is at work or not. While his hands are in society, he keeps his head cool in solitude. ..Ramana Maharshi Oneness with the beyond is his message of salvation. The non-duality of eternal bliss is his God. Mastery of the inner senses is his guiding light. - Nirvana Upanishad Free of "me" and "mine" and of a sense of responsibility, aware that "Nothing exists", with all desires extinguished within, a man does not act even in acting. Ashtavakra Gita Sathsangathve nissangathvam Nissangathve nirmohathvam Nirmohathve nischala thathvam Nischala tathve jeevanmukthi .. Shankaracharya Eri kelli nijambowne ..Bammera Pothana The person who says it can not be done, should not interrupt the person doing it .. Chineese Proverb You can wake up a person who is sleeping, but you can not wake up a person who is pretending sleep. .. Tamil proverb Even wear a torn shirt, buy a new book .. Kandukuri Veeresalingam Panthulu He who lends a book is an idiot. He who returns the book is more of an idiot. ..Arabic Proverb Any fool can ask questions, that the best informed cannot answer. A man who asks a question is a fool for a minute only, he who does not a fool forever. ..Chinese Proverb A man who asks a question is a fool for a minute only, he who does not a fool forever .. Chinese Proverb A man remains wise as long as he seeks wisdom; as soon as he thinks he has found it, he becomes a fool .. Talmud To have more desire less .. Talmud You must be the change you wish to see in the world ..Mahathma Gandhi

All that glitters is not gold. One may smile and smile and still be a villain .. William Shakespeare No man can dance to the tunes of two masters .. Bible Face is the index of a person Om Bhur Bhuvah Svah Tat Savitur Varennyam Bhargo Devasya Dhiimahi Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayaat || Meaning: We meditate on the glory of the Creator, Who has created the Universe, Who is worthy of worship, Who is the embodiment of Knowledge and Light, Who is the remover of sins and ignorance May he enlighten our Intellect. - Swami Sivananda Lokambulu lokastulu lokesulu tegina tudaku alowkambow evvadekakruthini velugonduno aathani sevinthun ..Bammera Pothana from Bhagavatham When your efforts are not recognized, don't get disheartened,everyday the sun puts a beautiful show, most of the audience will be asleep Only that day dawns to which we are awake ..Henry David Thoreau Learn to let go. That is the key to happiness ..The Budha We don't receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves after a journey that no one can take for us or spare us. .. Marcel Proust Paying one in the same coin. I used to think that the brain was the most wonderful organ in my body. Then I realized who was telling me this. Emo Phillips Manava seva madha seva. Service to mankind is service to God. Good Samaritan If prompted by egoism you think I will not fight; this determination of yours is vain. Nature will compel you to fight .. Gita Gatham gathaha. Past is past. Swagatham(within myself)/swaagatham.( welcome). tatwamasi:Thou art you. This word of message is from the Chandogyopanishat, means That is you. Aa no bhadra kratavo yanthu vishvataha. Let noble thoughts come to us from everyside. Rig-Veda Mano netram

Nimiththa matrunni Runanu bhandha rupena pasu pathni sutharaiha A jug fills drop by drop. Buddha Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. Buddha Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship. Buddha Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. Buddha In a controversy the instant we feel anger we have already ceased striving for the truth, and have begun striving for ourselves. Buddha In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west; people create distinctions out of their own minds and then believe them to be true. Buddha It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell. Buddha No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path. Buddha Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without. Buddha The tongue like a sharp knife... Kills without drawing blood. Buddha To be idle is a short road to death and to be diligent is a way of life; foolish people are idle, wise people are diligent. Buddha Unity can only be manifested by the Binary. Unity itself and the idea of Unity are already two. Buddha Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others. Buddha You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger. Buddha I am beside myself/ran amuck/ran aground He who knows not, and knows not that he knows not, is a fool...shun him. He who knows not, and knows that he knows not, is willing...teach him. He who knows, and knows not that he knows, is asleep...awaken him. He who knows, and knows that he knows, is wise...follow him ..Chinese Proverb All the world is a stage, And all the men and women merely players. Shakespeare Prajnam brahma (Brahman is Knowledge) Aham brahmsmi (I am Brahman) Tattvamasi (That thou art) Ayamtm brahma (This Athman is Brahman) ..Adi Shankara --------------------------->renunciation

Better indeed is knowledge than mechanical practice. Better than knowledge is meditation. But better still is surrender of attachment to results, because there follows immediate peace. ..Bhagavad Gita Letting go of fear, attachment, grief and anger is the sannyasins renunciation. He savors only the taste of his oneness with the ultimate reality. - Nirvana Upanishad Learn to let go. That is the key to happiness ..The Budha Liberated from the grip of egoism, like the moon (after the eclipse), full, ever blissful, self-luminous, one attains ones essence. Adhyatma Upanishad Man is bound by mine, but he is released by not mine. He should abandon a ll the thoughts relating to externals and so also with references to internals. O Ribhu, having given up all thoughts, you should rest content (in your soul) ever. Varaha Upanishad --------------------------->selfless state As a wave, flowing and foaming, is only water. So all creation, streaming out of the self, is only the self. Consider a piece of cloth. It is only threads. So all creation, when you look closely, is only the self .. Astavakra Gita 2:4.5 Even as birds, O beloved, return to their tree for rest, thus all things find their rest in Athman, the Supreme Spirit. All things find their final peace in their inmost Self, the Spirit. Upanishads When all the senses are stilled, when the mind is at rest, when the intellect wavers not - then, say the wise, is reached the highest state. This calm of the senses and the mind has been defined as yoga. He who attains it is freed from delusion .. Katha Upanishad 2.6.10-11 In order to realize the Self, renounce everything. Having cast off all (objects), assimilate yourself to that which remains. - Annapurna Upanishad The perception of `I' is associated with a form, may be the body. There should be nothing associated with the pure Self. The Self is the unassociated, pure reality, in whose light the body and the ego shine. On stilling all thoughts the pure consciousness remains. ..Ramana Maharshi What is the ego? Enquire. The body is insentient and cannot say `I'. The Self is pure consciousness and non-dual. It cannot say `I'. No one says `I' in sleep. What is the ego then? It is something intermediate between the inert body and the Self. It has no locus standi. If sought for it vanishes like a ghost. At night a man may imagine that there is a ghost by his side because of the play of shadows. If he looks closely he discovers that the ghost is not really there, and what he imagined to be a ghost was merely a tree or a post. If he does not look closely the ghost may terrify him. All that is required is to look closely and the ghost vanishes. The ghost was never there. So also with the ego. ..Ramana Maharshi He who perceives all beings in the Self alone, and the Self in all beings, does not entertain any hatred on account of that perception. Isavasya Upanishad Knowing that great and all-pervading Self by which one sees (the objects) both in the sleep and the waking states, the intelligent man grieves no more. - Katha Upanishad Like the butter hidden in milk, the Pure Consciousness resides in every being. That ought to be constantly churned out by the churning rod of the mind. Amrita-Bindu Upanishad

Little by little, through patience and repeated effort, the mind will become stilled in the Self. Bhagavad Gita That which is the finest essence - this whole world has that as its soul. That is Reality. That is the self. That art Thou. ..Chandogya Upanishad 6.8.7 The Self that is subtler than the subtle and greater than the great is seated in the heart of every creature. One who is free from desire sees the glory of the Self through the tranquillity of the mind and senses and becomes absolved from grief. - Katha Upanishad The Yogi is merged in the divine after leaving the body, as the jar-space is merged in cosmic space on the destruction of the jar. ..Avadhuta Gita Whether the body perishes now or lasts the age of moon and stars, what matters it to me having Consciousness alone as my body ? What matters it to the sky in the pot, whether it (the pot) is destroyed now or exists for a long time. Varaha Upanishad I am boundless space. The world is a clay pot. This is the truth. There is nothing to accept, nothing to reject, nothing to dissolve ..Ashtavakra Gita 6:1 Dissolve the self in the supreme Self as the pot-space is dissolved in infinite space; then, as the Infinite be silent for ever, O sage! Adhyatma Upanishad When you give up thinking of outward objects and prevent your mind from going outwards by turning it inwards and fixing it in the Self, the Self alone remains. ..Ramana Maharshi --------------------------->transition As person abandons worn-out clothes and acquires new ones, so when the body is worn out a new one is acquired by the Self, who lives within. Bhagavad Gita You are not the body, nor the senses, nor the mind, because they are all transient. The body is composed of food, so how can you be the body? ..Tripura Rahasya --------------------------->truth Comfort is no test of truth; on the contrary, truth is often far from being comfortable. --Vivekananda God can be realized through all paths. All religions are true. The important thing is to reach the roof. You can reach it by stone stairs or by wooden stairs or by bamboo steps or by a rope. You can also climb up by a bamboo pole. Ramakrishna Paramahamsa It is meditation that brings us nearer to truth than anything else. Swamy Vivekananda There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting. Buddha Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth. Buddha I was like a boy playing on the sea-shore, and diverting myself now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me. --Sir Isaac Newton --------------------------->unending / undestructible

Fear Not. What is not real, never was and never will be. What is real, always was and cannot be destroyed. -- Bhagavat Gita Matter can not be created, matter can not be destroyed, matter can change from one form to another. --Laws of matter Physics For men may come and men may go, But I go on for ever ..Alfred Lord Tennyson (The Brook) *****************REVISION 01 *****************REVISION 01 *****************REVISION 01 *****************REVISION 01 I had the opportunity to read some of the great spiritual books. I am privileged to read the greatest book Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamruthamu , which ignited my passion for reading spiritual books. I am grateful to God for everything. Saibaba said, Shama, ours is 72 generations relation and I am always with you all these generations. [ Sai Charithamruthamu] Life,light and love(Sat-Chit-Anand). Swami Rama Tirtha It is God, from whom, at the beginning, all came; it is God who sustains all who is final refuge of all. Though God is ever distinct from the creation, God pervades all that God has created, for, apart from God nothing exists. Formless and generally unseen but yet revealed by every form that is manifest, is His own self, beyond all thought and senses. [The modern Saints and Mystics Chapter Swami Omkara Sachidananda] When the heart is thus purified, the attachment to sense-objects vanishes and he attains the knowledge of the essence of God, and his mind ceases to waver in the face of success-or-failure, joy or sorrow, and differences due to caste, religion, status in life-that is, he becomes absolutely steady and his equilibrium remains undisturbed under all circumstances. The devine bliss is called Brahman or Moksha. [Modern Saints and Mystics, Chapter Swami Sevadasji] Indukaladandhu ledani Sandhehamu valadu chakri sarvopagathundu Endhendhu vedhiki chuchina Andhandhe kaladu danavaghrani vinte God is omnipresent. See God everywhere and in every being. Service to mankind is service to God. All is my Prabhu every human being,animal,plant and stone. So my host added, If I put my foot on the stone, I place my foot on God. Hoon as if your foot is not God. It is also God. So Gods foot on Gods stone. [Modern Saints and Mystics, Chapter Sri Dharma Devi] On the day of Devali festival, in the year 1905, Rama was writing an article for the Zamana Magazine of Lucknow on the important subject Self Realisation. The last paragraph was something like this: Oh death take away this body. I have infinite number of bodies to live in. I shall shine in the rays of the Sun. I shall live in the light of the Moon. I shall live in the Wind, I shall dance in the hilly brooks. I shall fly with the birds and the honey bees. I shall live in the fragrance of the rose. There I go and return again. I neither brought anything with me nor take anything away. I go, go and go. After this he had a deep trance, tears rolling down his cheeks. The servant went up to the glass door of the kutir(room) and saw the Swami in deep trance. He went up at about 1:00 PM. Again and opened the door slightly. The Swami smiled and said, You have come three or four times. What is the matter? . He replied, it is 1:00 P.M. and Bhiksha(meal) is ready. Rama asked, Have you eaten? No, he replied. Why?, the Swami inquired. It is

Devali, and I shall eat after a bath, the servant replied. The Swami said, I shall also have a swim on this great day before the meal. So, Rama went and jumped into the river as usual. The current wa s swift and he lost control. The servant saw this and cried out, Swamiji is being carried swiftly away with the current and hast lost control. The Swami shouted back, Do not be anxious. Gods will be done. In a few seconds he failed to control himself in the swift current and was carried away. The servant who was stupefied, saw how Rama with effort managed to sit and shout loudly thrice Om Om Om and attained Jala Samadhi. Rama was born on Devali day and left his mortal coil on the Devali day. It is rather difficult to say if the last paragraph of his article written an hour before on Death had anything to do with the inner knowledge of his passing away a little later. [Modern Saints and Mystics, Chapter Narain Swami] What are you or I? When measured against the awful immensities and eternities of the universe? Pride surely is the deadliest of sins of at least the silliest of absurdities. [Modern Saints and Mystics, Chapter Reverend Father Smith(Major)] When some one questioned him about the future events he told them not to try and find out about the future events when they did not even know themselves. The first duty of each and everyone should be to enquire about oneself. Unless you know yourself, why waste time in trying to know about others. It is self realization. It is not hearing and accepting. It is being and becoming. It begins with the faculty of realization and ends in unity with God. [Modern Saints and Mystics, Chapter Ramana Maharshi] God is not remote from the world. He is always here and now. God is a spirit which is hidden in every man nay, in everything throughout the universe. [Modern Saints and Mystics, Chapter Swami Ramadas] Whatever happens is by His will and what seems like free will, really works by His power. It is best to accept His will and one will not tremble under sorrow if one looks to him for strength to endure them. [Modern Saints and Mystics, Chapter Swami Ramadas] Which is the greatest vision? The vision of Krishna in His Avataric form or the vision of Him everywhere and as everybody in the universe? Certainly, to behold Him as all and in all is the greatest vision. [Modern Saints and Mystics, Chapter Sri Dharma Devi] Does God look like any of these pictures you see on the walls, of Lord Krishna? Hoon ! These are merely the workings of the painters mind. My Prabhu. How can I describe Him? This tongue has no power to do so. [Modern Saints and Mystics, Chapter Sri Dharma Devi] The absolute Brahman is the form of Narayana or Vishnu. [Modern Saints and Mystics, Chapter Shri Anandamayi Ma] As I said before, he is of the opinion that the only one who can teach a man to find God is God Himself alone. [Modern Saints and Mystics, Chapter Yogi Roshan Nathji] A person gets a birth according to his/her concentrated wishes at the time of hir/her last breath at the final termination of this birth. [Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamruthamu, Chapter - 5] Rig Veda - "Prajnanam Brahma" -Divine consciousness is the Supreme Reality or Para Brahman. Yajur Veda - " Aham Brahmasmi" -"I am Brahma". That is, that 'I'in everybody is Brahma. Sama Veda - "Tatvamasi" -"Thou art that". Atharvana Veda - "Ayam Atma Brahma" -"Atma is Brahma". Aham Brahmasmi destruction of aham(ego) is moksha(liberation), attaining Brahmam. Liberation cannot be achieved unless the ego is destroyed. Liberation is realizing Brahmam. Destruction of moha(infatuation) is moksha(liberation). [Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamruthamu, Chapter 6 & Chapter - 17] Unless the separatist tendencies of ego is completely destroyed, atma sashatkara will not take place. Atma sakshatkara is vision of the soul. [Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamruthamu, Chapter - 8]

The knowledge of self, and all actions get absorbed in the form of Brahmam. Brahmajnana is knowledge of absolute. [Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamruthamu, Chapter - 6] A Brahmin should live like a seeker of Brahmajnana. Then only he will be called a sath-brahmin. [Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamruthamu, Chapter - 8] Under the overall supervision of Krishna Paramatma, the Kurukshetra war became a yagna. Dakshayagna performed in the absence of Shiva turned into a battlefield. [Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamruthamu, Chapter - 14]

For every action there is a corresponding reaction. [Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamruthamu, Chapter - 8] It is a laborious matter to search between causes and affects. Actions without cause will never occur. [Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamruthamu, Chapter - 16] God pervade at all times and at all places. [Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamruthamu] The constant wanderer Lord Dattatreyas presence is all pervading. [Swami Samartha] Everything in the entire universe is pervaded by Brahman without any differentiation of clean or dirty, good or bad. Brahman is in clean water as well as in dirty water and one who drinks it is also occupied by Brahman himself. Understand the omnipotent nature of God and to know the origin of this world. [ Gajanan Vijay Granth] God pervades everything in this universe. As a corollary, from this metaphysical position the ethical advice it offers is that, a man ought to enjoy whatever God bestows on him in the firm belief, that He pervades everything, whatever bestowed on him by God, must be good. It follows naturally that, the Upanishads should forbid us from coveting another mans property. In fact, we are fittingly taught here a lesson of contentment with ones own lot in the belief that, whatever hap pens, is divinely ordained and hence, it is good for us. Another moral advice is that, one must spend ones life-time in doing action specifically the Karmas enjoined in the Shastras, with resignation to Gods will. Inactivity according to Upanishads, would be the canker of the soul. [Shri Sai Satcharitra] All are Gods forms only and God lives in all beings. [Shri Sai Satcharitra] Sri Krishna had eight wives and sixteen thousand gopikas. Still He was a regular bachelor. He is not a womanizer as you think. It was not bodily relationship. They were all wives in the relationship of soul. The soul that was supported was wife and the soul that was supporting it was husband. [Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamruthamu, Chapter - 10] The merciful God covered the ever living soul with this cloth of body. That soul is the ever living, infinite, indivisible, attributeless, formless God. [Shri Sai Satcharitra] One gets the qualities and the habits of the body one is born in. This is the law of the nature. [Shri Sai Satcharitra]

When a living being is encased in a body, he/she would be in a state of enslavement with many qualities, properties and desires. [Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamruthamu, Chapter - 17] I am the one who resides in each and every atom of this universe. I am the resolve that binds together one atom with another. I am the Rudra of the final destruction blasting each and every atom preparing the ground for the process of new creation. I am the phenomenon which teaches you what is jnana(knowledge) and what is ajnana(ignorance). I enjoy by throwing all living creatures in a variety of illusions. I am the one

who rush with a thousand hands to the succor of those who call Me in distress. I am the ancient one who protects them. I am the real I who ticks in all creatures as I and I. [Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamruthamu, Chapter - 18] I am the I. All natures are in Me. I support for all. I am only I. I am beyond all limitations. I am above everything which appears as many truths and untruths and I am the support for all those matters. I am the superior truth. That nature of truth is beyond boundaries. [Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamruthamu, Chapter - 19] It was declared that truth, knowledge and eternity is Bharmam. I am the one who is the form of Satya, Jnana and Anantha Brahmam. I am the one who preaches to the atheist that there is no God. I am the one who extols about the existence of God to a theist. I am the embodiment of all gurus. I am the one who shines with self effulgence in all states. [Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamruthamu, Chapter - 19] I am the supreme truth, truth of all truths. In Vedas also it is said that truth, knowledge and infinity are the supreme Brahmam. [Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamruthamu, Chapter - 20] He is truth unto truth, wisdom unto wisdom, adinfinitude much beyond infinitude. [Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamruthamu, Chapter - 38] The ego I and I is in the form of consciousness in every human being. [Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamruthamu, Chapter - 22] What is impossible? Atma said that it will create itself through maya. [Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamruthamu, Chapter - 24] Atma is devoid of passions. It has no attachment with anything. So it is eternal, pure and extremely sacred. [Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamruthamu, Chapter - 36] Shankara entered into the dead body of the king by means of parakaya pravesa vidya. [Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamruthamu, Chapter - 36] A single soul may take birth into many lives at the same time. The cursed Devendra took birth as five Pandavas. Eventhough having five forms and five minds, their supporting souls are one only. [Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamruthamu] You were born as a Brahmin Vedanta Sharma and a cobbler Bangarayya at the same time. Your shakti was born as three wives, as the cow that died recently in your house; and Bangaramma wife of Bangarayya, cobbler at the same time. The consciousness of your deceased wives, the consciousness of the mother cow merged in the consciousness of the present pariah woman Bangaramma. Chaithanya should revert back to moola chaithanya from which it emanated and should merge with it. [Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamruthamu, Chapter - 36] When she was continuing as Bangaramma, she was born as a mother cow in a state unknown to her. Without being aware she took birth as three wives to you. When the consciousness is distributed into three or four bodies it feels that the consciousness in a particular body was itself. It cannot recognize the unity underlying it. [Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamruthamu, Chapter - 36] The entire parishad was astounded. A light came and merged in me (Vedanta Sarma) in the sight of all people. Then again Sripada spoke sternly. Before your very eyes the aatmajyoti of Bangarayya merged in Vedanta Sarma. You decide whether he is a Brahmin or a pariah. [Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamruthamu, Chapter - 36] It is also mentioned that a single atma may be born in four or five masculine forms. The shakti principle of that atma may be born in four or five feminine forms. [Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamruthamu, Chapter - 43]

Grandfather, this thorny tree is Vissavadhani who in his previous birth was in our street and ridiculed Oh, self manifested Datta is born as the grandson of Bapanarya. [Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamruthamu, Chapter - 20] Both female and male natures will be there in every body. Soul has no difference of male and female. That remains as the base for these two natures and transcend them. [Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamruthamu, Chapter - 36] The all knowing Sri Sreepada knew that the consciousness of the husband of Lakshmi who crossed Viraja river remained merged in the Pouranic Pandit who was the basic essential nature of the former. [Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamruthamu, Chapter - 38] We had a feeling that Sri Sreepada totally filled in our bodies, flesh, blood and nerves. We heard the theory that jeevatma is Paramatma, but we had never seen or heard of this sort of miracle where the entire body was filled with the consciousness of Sri Sreepada, and experience only was granted without having any touch with Him. [Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamruthamu, Chapter - 40] God is there in all living beings. It is said that He pervades from an ant up to parabrahma. So He is immanent in all creation in the form of creation. It means that He is identified in the consciousness of all living organisms. That is the specialty of this incarnation. Even though He exists as all living beings in this creation His touch will not be experienced by them in any level. That is only is His Vaishnava maya. [Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamruthamu, Chapter - 43] Soul is beyond time. [Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamruthamu] Pride and arrogance are the roots of all evils. [Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamruthamu] A body functions, as long as a soul inhabits it. [ Gajanan Vijay Granth] None cares for a lifeless body. [ Gajanan Vijay Granth] One source of happiness is spiritual thoughts. The spiritual thoughts flush your mind clean. The clean mind reflects the soul whose very nature is joy itself. When the clean mind reflects the soul, the bodyconsciousness melts away. He experiences Brahman. He becomes the recipient of eternal bliss. [ Gajanan Vijay Granth] Dadasaheb told his son B.G.Kharpade that Saibaba wept profusely on the day Gajanan Maharaj breathed his last. My life-breath is leaving me a great part of my soul is giving up my body. These were the word of sorrow uttered by Shri Sainathji. [ Gajanan Vijay Granth] God is the sole supporter of this universe and He occupies every animate and inanimate objects here. [ Gajanan Vijay Granth] I know the Sachidananda in those bees. God is in those bees and I am Gods incarnation. How can water hurt water? [ Gajanan Vijay Granth] O Pasupathi, you have as many forms as number of people in the universe. Your formless form occupies all the universe, and it is also the manifestation of maya in its original form. O Dear God, it is impossible to apprehend your form, and so you have been kind enough to manifest yourself in forms with different attributes. Devotees name as they like, and the names do not make any difference for you. you are same everywhere. [ Gajanan Vijay Granth] Know that, this life and death is unreal. Nobody is born and nobody dies. The knowledge of the Supreme self has been advised by the intellectuals to understand this illusion. You cannot be liberated from the present life, without suffering the effects of your deeds of previous life. You do something in your past life

and take birth to suffer the effects of those deeds and again to take birth for the deeds of present life and the so on the cycle goes on. How long will you continue this chain? [ Gajanan Vijay Granth] Today my brother has come from Vidharba and his name is Gajanan. Go and have his darshan respectfully. Offer him coconut and sugar as a present from me, and put this garland around his neck. Though we have two bodies, still we are one. [ Gajanan Vijay Granth] Shri Gajanan Maharaj loudly said Har Har. And with those words Bhaskars soul left for Vaikunth. [ Gajanan Vijay Granth] The ultimate fruit of all these paths, is self knowledge; but that knowing the self should not be without love for it. .. Dark fair, short, tall ugly and beautiful are the attributes of the body, and it has no effect on the soul. Bodies are different but all have got the same soul. Likewise it is applicable to these three paths (Karma marg, Yoga marg, Bhakthi marg) of realization. Externally they have different appearances, but the ultimate goal is the same for them. Once they reach the goal, the different paths are forgotten. ..All the followers of these three paths, after reaching the goal become saints and then merge with each other. .. There was no difference in their ultimate gain. ..All these saints had different behaviors, but attained the authority to become one with the God. It is not the path that matters, but the ultimate reaching of the goal is important. [ Gajanan Vijay Granth] Only those, having faith in me, and whom I love will get their desires fulfilled. I dont need the others. Brahmajnana(Knowledge of the Supreme Reality) should be told to the repentants, and not to the non believers. To meet God, we must be firm in our path. [ Gajanan Vijay Granth] Lord Krishna has told Arjuna in Geeta that, this body has to be changed like clothes. Remember that all the Brahmavettas(saints) did the same thing i.e they only changed the body. [ Gajanan Vijay Granth] Sree Sreepada Sreevallabha said to his 1st elder brother Sreedhararaja Sarma, you will take birth as guru Samartha Ramadas to Shivaji Maharaja. He Said to his 2 nd elder brother Ramaraja Sarma, you will take birth as Sreedhara Swami. [Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamruthamu, Chapter - 41] Sreedhara Sarma would be born in one of his births as a great person named Samartha Ramadas. Vathsavai Narasimha Varma would be born as Chathrapati Shivaji at that time. Samartha Ramadas would act as the preceptor of Shivaji and in this way the connection of priesthood between the two families gets well established. Ramaraja Sarma takes birth under the name Sreedhara and becomes a great yogi. [Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamruthamu, Chapter - 41] Vathsavai Narasimha Varma said like this, You are the only kshatriya protecting all people. All the remaining are kshatriyas for name sake only. Then Sree Sreepada said, The nature of rulers is always in Me. I am commanding you to take birth in Maharastra unde the name of Shivaji Maharaja and protect sanathana dharma. [Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamruthamu, Chapter -47] Sriparda Sreevallabha blessed me(Ananda Sarma) saying, My grace will be on you in this and all succeeding births. In your final birth you will become an Avadhoota under the name Venkayya. May you shine well by constantly keeping sacrificial fire; capable of making rains shower during drought; capable of solving the worldly difficulties of house holders.[Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamruthamu, Chapter -13] Sree Golagamudi Venkayya Swami(Avadhoota Leela) served the needy with His leelas. [Sree Golagamudi Venkayya Swami Charitra] In the meanwhile the cow of Narasavadhani came out. Sreepada asked His father to keep Him on the ground. That cow went round sreepada thrice, and afterwards it prostrated before the auspicious feet of Sreepada and breathed its last. Narasavadhani understood that the barren cow in his house was his mother and the old bullock in his house was his father. Since both of them ill-treated his paternal grandmother in her old age they took such low births and labored for him in a servile manner. It was also clearly envisioned by him that the mother cow

while dying requested Sreepada to drink its milk and for that Sreepada assured that He would drink its milk in the next birth when it would be born as a barren cow. [Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamruthamu, Chapter - 6] One day, the Lord went to a poor brahmin's house for alms. There he saw a very old barren she-buffalo and asked the lady of the house for its milk. The brahmin's wife said, 'Sir, this she-buffalo is barren and does not yield milk. we are letting this she-buffalo to the villagers on hire to carry loads." Sree NrisimhaSaraswathi said, 'Mother, please do not tell me lies!' To prove her claim the brahmin's wife fetched a vessel and milked the buffalo, just to show the Master that her words were true. To the brahmin's wife's surprise, milk flowed abundantly from the she-buffaloes udders! The brahmin's wife boiled the milk and offered it to the Lord. Sree Nrisimhasaraswathi drank the milk, blessed the brahmin's wife and left. [Sree Gurucharitra Chapter 22] I do not agree that this buffalo is barren. Go and milk her. Then to respect Sriguru, the Brahmin lady went near the buffalo with a pot and started milking the buffalo. And to her great surprise, the barren buffalo started giving milk. [ Swami Samartha] Swami Samartha listened to Bhavadekar Buvas purana recitation. Bhavadekar Buva saw a vision revealing that he was a butcher in his former life and indiscriminately killed numerous animals especially cows. Only one good deed committed by Bhavadekar Buva was that he offered clothes and a woolen blanket to a poor Brahmin who was shivering in cold. Because of this Bhavadekar Buva was born in a Brahmin family, but as his past sins were enormous, he is suffering from physical and financial maladies. The above vision brought Bhavadekar Bua spiritual wisdom and maturity. [A Glimpse of Divinity: Shri Swami Samartha] Bavadekar Puranik, in his previous birth, was a butcher. He had slaughtered a number of cows and animals. Neverthless he has carried one virtuous act. A Brahmin was shivering with cold on the riverbank. At that time Puranik offered a dhotee and a blanket. As a result of this virtuous act Puranik was born as a Brahmin in this life, because you slaughtered animals, Puranik, his wife and mother suffered from sickness and poverty. [Swami Samartha] Sriguru spoke Do you know that committing suicide would add to your sins and increase your sufferings in your next life. Take for granted that you have already endured for the sins of your past life and you will get my blessings, be assured that you will be cured of your acute stomach pain with immediate affect. Today I will feed you with very delicious food. [Swami Samartha] O boy, one should not kill oneself, never lose hope and do not stop trying to get the desired things. If you now commit suicide due to calamities in the family life, you will be required to take birth again to undergo the sufferings which you may avoid by suicide in this birth. [ Gajanan Vijay Granth] Two arrogant Brahmins asking for certificates in vedic debates. A matanga community man remembers the last seven births lives and recites Vedas. The two arrogant Brahmins be came brahmarakshas. [ Swami Samartha] By then the kind glance of Sri Swami fell on the two tigers sitting at the entrance and listening. He spoke to the tigers scholars, why are you sitting at the entrance? You ride on an elephant and go on obtaining certificates of victory. To this the tigers replied Maharaj, by your kind darshan we have been blessed. Kindly be merciful and tell us as to why we got this life of tigers? Then Shri Swami spoke in your past life, you amassed knowledge by learning, but you also became arrogant and harassed saints and Brahmins alike by defeating them . Your arrogance has given you this life of a tiger. Then both lay down on the ground and began to plead. Then Shri swami said in this tiger life there is no movement. You will be born as Brahmins in your next life and then by gaining knowledge and rendering devotional service you can get liberation. [Swami Samartha]

One day as the Brahmin stood near Swami weaving a chorie, Shri Swami spoke to Radh abai, the brahmins wife Limbe(possibly this might be her name in her previous life) come here this Teli was your husband in your past life. You had given birth to these three children now accompanying this Teli. Extend your motherly love to them. Radhabai felt ashamed and the devotees present there were stunned. Telis children were all elder to Radhabai. When they came to know from Shri Swamiji that Radhabai was their mother, they started calling her mother. Suddenly her motherly love started blossoming, Radhabai embraced her children and fondled them with love. The aged Teli was overpowered with emotions and his eyes filled with tears. Shri Swamiji ordered Radhabai, Limbe go with Teli to his house, there under the coloured wooden pillar, you had buried a metal vessel filled with wealth for use of Teli family. Get that vessel buried under the coloured pillar and give it to the Teli. That wealth will drive away poverty of this Teli and you will give birth to a son. [Swami Samartha] The pride emanating from wealth, youth and knowledge always brings an impediment in the path of religious and spiritual progress. Therefore a Guru always destroys the pride of his devotees. When the human body is unreal then what is the use of that pride? [Swami Samartha] From the darshan of the fig tree, I learnt that this body of a human being, is made of five essential elements viz earth, water, fire, air and ether, is itself a panchapathra. [Swami Samartha] The body is on loan to you from the panchabhuthas(sky, wind, fire, water and earth). As life leaves the body , it returns to panchabhuthas. The panchabhuthas go where they came from. [Shri Sai Satcharitra] As long as one lives, one should take care of the body. But it is a waste of time to think of or worry about death. This body is a loan to you from the panchabhuthas(sky, wind, fire, water and earth). As life leaves it the body returns to panchabhuthas. The air joins the air. The energy joins the energy. The panchabhuthas go where they came from. [Shri Sai Satcharitra] The steps leading to the realization of the self are most difficult. [Shri Sai Satcharitra] The Athman has no difference or division. It is the same everywhere. This is the truth. Happiness or sadness is the dharma relating to the heart. The heart get the consciousness only when it is conjoined with the soul. [Shri Sai Satcharitra] Seek the truth. Athman is the truth. To recognize, realize the Athman and to be immersed in it is the sole objective of all spiritual endeavour. [Shri Sai Satcharitra] God has covered the ever living soul with this cloth of a body. The soul is the ever living, infinite, indivisible, attribute less, formless God. [Shri Sai Satcharitra] As per the word of Shri Swamiji, Gurupuja is superior to idol worship. [Swami Samartha] When there is mental purity, there is no need for external purity. [Swami Samartha] Saibaba said I am He(Soham) Brahma consciousness, manifests the joy of self -realization and dissolving the distinction of I and Thou, makes us one with the Supreme(One Reality). [Shri Sai Satcharitra] When our knowledge grows, the bondage of body consciousness(we are the body) will snap and our intellect will be merged in spirit-consciousness(we are the spirit). Then we shall get bliss and contentment. [Shri Sai Satcharitra] Sai Baba expounded many a time, who this Me(or I) is. You need not go in search of Me. Barring your name and form, there exists in you as well as in all beings, a sense of Being of consciousness of Existence. That is Myself. Knowing This, you see Me inside yourself, as well as in all beings. If you practice this, you will realize all pervasiveness, and thus attain oneness with Me. [Shri Sai Satcharitra]

If you go on meditating on Sai form, it will in course of time, lead you into self realization. It is very hard to know or realize the nature of self or Brahma, but if you approach through the Saguna Brahma(Sai form), your process will be easy. [Shri Sai Satcharitra] The Self cannot be gained by the study of Vedas, nor by intellect, nor by learning. He whom the Self chooses, gains it. To him the Self reveals its nature, says Katha Upanishad. [Shri Sai Satcharitra] Qualifications for Brahma-gnyan or self-realization: 01 One should have intense desire to get free 02 One should feel non-attachment with things of this world as well as the next world. 03 One should look inwards into the innerself. 04 One should turn away from doing and being wrong. 05 One should lead a true life as dictated in the scriptures. 06 One should always do good things 07One should control the mind and senses. 08 One should purify the mind. 09 One should have a Guru, to guide in the right direction for self realization. 10Gods grace. If God is pleased with our practice and penance, God helps us in self realization. [Shri Sai Satcharitra] The steps leading to self-realization are most difficult. [Shri Sai Satcharitra]

--------------------------->ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Acknowledgements: Thanks to

SRIPADA SRIVALLABHA MAHA SAMSTHANAM Venugopalaswamy Temple Street, PITHAPURAM - 533 450, E.G.Dist. A.P., India Phone - (08869) 250300 Fax - (08869) 250900 URL:www.sripadasrivallabha.org
for kindly granting me permission to quote excerpts from the hagiography Sreepada Sreevallabha Charithamrutham Thanks to

The Divine Life Society

P.O. Shivanandanagar-249 192 Dt. Tehri-Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India Phone: +91-135-2430040/2431190 Fax: +91-135-2442046
for kindly granting me permission to publish excerpts from the book MODERN SAINTS AND MYSTICS by Major General A.N.Sharma I.M.S/A.M.C.,D.M.S. Army(Retd) A Devine Life Society Publication Thanks to Sri Mukund M. Hanumathe, for kindly granting me permission to quote excerpts from the book A Glimpse of Divinity: Shri Swami Samartha. Thanks to Gajanan Vijay Granth, by Shri Dasaganu Maharaj, An English Adaptation by G.N. Naik. Published by Shri Gajanan Maharaj Sanstah, Shegaon, Maharastra India. Thanks to Sailaja and Srinivas Bhamidipaty, for the great book "SREEPADA SREEVALLABHA CHARITHAAMRUTHAM" --------------------------->REFERENCES "SREEPADA SREEVALLABHA CHARITAAMRUTAM"

Hagiography of Sreepada Sreevallabha. Original sanskrit script by Sriman Shankar Bhatt. English Translation by Sri Perepa Sreeramamutrhy Published by Sree Sreepada Sreevallabha Maha Samsthanam, Pithapuram-533450 AP India MODERN SAINTS AND MYSTICS by Major General A.N.Sharma I.M.S/A.M.C.,D.M.S. Army(Retd) A Devine Life Society Publication SELF-REALISATION ITS MEANING AND METHOD by Swami Krishnanda A Devine Life Society Publication. (Unfortunately, I could not quote any excerpts from this book, as every word from this book is invaluable and could find anything to omit.) Sai Satcharithra, published by Shirdi Saibaba Sansthan, Shirdi, Maharastra, India. A Glimpse of Divinity Swami Samartha, Author Mukund M. Hanumathe Gajanan Vijay Granth, by Shri Dasaganu Maharaj, An English Adaptation by G.N. Naik. Published by Shri Gajanan Maharaj Sanstah, Shegaon, Maharastra India.

Golagamudi Venkayya Swami Charitra, Golagamudi, Nellore Dt, India http://www.sreepeetham.org/site/index.html http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0QtrP9CXpk Danielle converts to Hinduism --revision 01---------http://davidgodman.org/rteach/whoami1.shtml http://www.indiadivine.org/articles/749-death-immortality.html --From death to immortality http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adi_Shankara http://www.kamakoti.org/miscl/adi.html www.chinmayasaket.org www.chinmayamissiondfw.org http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soul http://www.soulnpeace.com/sri-sri-sri-guru-viswa-sphoorthi.html http://www.advaita-vedanta.org/archives/advaita-l/2003-January/004563.html http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/personal/06/03/spiritual.but.not.religious/index.html?hpt=C2 http://www.abc-of-yoga.com/pranayama/ --Pranayama http://www.paranormal-encyclopedia.com/n/near-death/ --Near Death Experience http://www.custance.org/old/seed/ch2s.html --Death: Event Or Process? http://www.relfe.com/near_death_experiences.html --Life After Death www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_469102.html --Annanova: Study Proves The Soul Exists http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=nl&u=http://forum.scholieren.com/archive/index.php/t28570.html&ei=TyNpTqv_BsWGsALJuvm4Dg&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=4&sqi=2&ved=0 CEcQ7gEwAw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dwww.ananova.com/news/story/sm_469102.html%26hl%3Den%2 6biw%3D1280%26bih%3D902%26prmd%3Divns http://www.ghost-story.co.uk/imagegallery/anlabyschoolimage.html http://www.scribd.com/doc/46289110/Defining-Goals --Defining Goals http://www.scribd.com/Professional-Death/d/20032307 --Professional Death http://www.ghost-story.co.uk/ghostphotos.html uTube - ghost caught on school cctv http://hitxp.wordpress.com/2007/03/03/great-sanskrit-hymns/ http://www.woodlandshindutemple.org/ http://hindutemple.org/index.php http://www.ineval.org/sai/teachings/SaiBabaGita/essence.html http://www.buddhasangha.com/quotes/upanishads_quotes/upanishads_quotes2.htm -- Great Quotes http://gaslight.mtroyal.ca/bottlimp.htm

http://www.zimbio.com/Doug+Mirabelli/articles/WV-Ko-HPzb/Strange+Case+Carlos+Mirabelli+1889+1951 Carlos Mirabelli Levitating http://www.experiencefestival.com/arige --Arige Psychique Surgery http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/23/living/crisis-apparitions/index.html?hpt=hp_c1 Do loved ones bid farewell from beyond the grave? http://www.amazon.com/Arigo-Surgeon-John-G-Fuller/dp/0690005121 http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Jos_Arig_-_Biography/id/1538090 http://haldolongwidget.wordpress.com/2008/11/27/apparitions/ http://www.prairieghosts.com/apparitions.html http://www.ghostmysteries.com/forum/index.php?app=gallery&module=images&section=viewimage&img=845 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-445728/Picture-The-ghostly-Angel-Vatican.html http://www.prairieghosts.com/seance.html http://davidgodman.org/rteach/whoami1.shtml --Ramana Maharshi Quotes http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/04/03/japan.tsunami.captain/index.html?hpt=C2 http://paranormal.about.com/od/telekinesispsychokinesis/a/aa031703.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychokinesis http://forum.spiritualindia.org/gajanan-maharaj-pothi-t37251.20.html;wap2= http://vsr28.tripod.com/id2.html --Great reference on vedas